ASHY-HEADED GREEN PIGEON 33 
oneself at some point of their flighting where the natural advantages 
are all in favour of the birds. One such place was the crest of a small 
hill between the Rangagora and Digaltarang Tea-gardens in the Dibrugarh 
district, where the birds on good days passed in a constant stream 
every morning and evening for some two hours. Here, if one stood 
in the open on the top of the rise, the birds came so high and wide 
that but few shots were obtained; on the other hand, if one stood 
out of sight of the approaching Pigeon, on the far side of the hill just 
below the crest, the birds came sweeping up the hill so close to the 
ground that they were not visible until they cleared the top, not thirty 
yards in front, and were also protected to a great extent by the scrub- 
jungle which was scattered about. Behind us, and within a few yards, 
was heavy tree-forest, and directly the Pigeon came into sight, and 
also caught sight of us, they scurried through the bushes into this 
forest like lightening, dodging from one side to another like Jack Snipe, 
though at four times the pace. I had the pleasure of shooting here 
once with two other guns when there was a high wind behind the 
birds, and harder shooting I have never had. We did pick up some 
sixty birds in the two hours during which we shot, but I am quite sure 
four cartridges out of every five fired were ineffective. 
I think the Ashy-headed Green Pigeon is as fast as any of its 
tribe, certainly a good deal faster than its bigger cousin, the Bengal 
Pigeon, and quite as fast as the little Tveron, whilst the Pin-tailed 
and Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon are a trifle slower. These latter birds 
are, moreover, far more direct in their flight, and do not resort to 
the constant twistings and dodgings which seem habitual to the species 
we are now dealing with. 
Like most other Green Pigeon, they are really rather shy birds, 
but when feeding in thickly foliaged trees often trust to the effective 
blending of their colours with the leaves to escape detection. I have 
known cases in which a bird has been shot out of a tree without the 
rest of the flock taking to flight, and which, in fact, were not discovered 
until a second or third shot at other birds approaching the tree 
frightened them out of it. As a rule, however, the first shot at any 
one of their number sends them in a hurry from their tree, but always 
by the side away from the shooter, so that it is but seldom that he 
can get in another shot as they quit. 
They are wonderful climbers, and have great strength of grasp 
D 
